HOUSEHOLDS can make the most of warmer temperatures and longer days to slash the cost of energy bills.
There are a host of tricks to cut costs over summer months and some won’t cost you a penny.
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From keeping curtains closed to switching to LED light bulbs and reducing your shower times, you could save a bundle.
Here are 10 checks to make now to save you money over the summer – combined, they could help you claw back £308.
Close your curtains – £27
Closing your curtains on hotter days will keep your home cool and means you won’t have to use an electrical fan.
Fan running costs vary but can range between 1p and 3p per hour.
Read more on Energy Bills
It might not seem like a lot, but if you are running a fan for 10 hours a day across June, July and August (92 days), you’re looking at spending around £27.60.
Meanwhile, closing your curtains costs nothing and can be done in a matter of seconds.
Open windows and internal doors to let natural ventilation flow through your home and keep temperatures down too.
If you can, make sure to open them on opposite sides of the home as well as this will encourage better air flow.
Switch off lights and swap to LED – £7.50
Switching off lights after leaving any room is a quick and easy way of cutting energy bills over the summer.
Not just that, but the type of light bulbs you use can have a big impact on how much you pay overall.
The Energy Saving Trust says you can save up to £3 per year for every traditional halogen bulb you switch to an LED bulb.
Swap out 10 lightbulbs in your home and that’s £30 a year, or £7.50 over three months.
You’ll have to front up the cost of the new bulbs first, but will end up making major savings over time.
Invest in solar lights outside and you can also make the most of all the sunlight over the warmer months and trim down your electric bill.
They don’t have to cost a bomb either.
At the time of writing, Home Bargains offers solar lights starting from £1.49.
Outdoor LED lights that run off mains don’t cost much to run, but the running costs for solar lights are nil so you’re saving at least something.
Defrost your freezer – £37
Ice building up in your freezer means the appliance has to work harder to keep temperatures down, in turn driving up your energy bill.
So, check yours to see if it needs defrosting.
Not only will it keep your costs down, you’ll have more space to fit extra bits of food in there too.
If you don’t defrost your freezer regularly, experts previously estimated it can cost you as much as £150 extra a year – £37.50 over three months.
Most experts say you should defrost your freezer once or twice a year, so for the sake of a few minutes’ work, the savings are well worth it.
Dry smart – £46
How you dry your clothes can have a massive impact on your energy bills.
You’ll definitely want to swerve using a tumble dryer as these cost 97p per hour to run, according to Uswitch.
Instead, hang your bits on a clothes line or airer outside and let the sun do all the work.
Based on two two-hour washes a week over 12 weeks in the summer, that makes for a hefty saving of £46.56.
Even if you don’t have an outside area, you can still use an airer inside and put it near the window to catch any rays.
Slash your shower time – £15
One quick way to pay less on your water and energy bills is to slash your shower time.
The Energy Saving Trust estimates keeping your shower time to just four minutes can save you £60 a year on your energy bills – or £15 across June, July and August.
Steer clear of baths too as these cost more than having a quick shower.
Lower your washing machine temperature – £6
Washing your clothes at the right temperature ensures any pesky stains and smells are removed, but you don’t have to crank up the heat.
Washing clothes on a 30°C cycle will do the job just fine and could save you up to £24 a year, according to the Energy Saving Trust – £6 over the summer.
Try reducing your washing machine use by one run per week by combining loads too.
Turn off ‘vampire’ devices – £29
So-called “vampire” devices churn through energy when left in standby mode so are worth switching off to cut costs.
Some are worse than others but TV boxes, smart TVs and Wi-Fi routers are the worst culprits.
It might seem like a tiny thing to do, but the savings can add up fast.
Switching off all your vampire appliances can save you around £118 a year – or £29.50 in the three months between June and August.
Put your boiler into ‘summer mode’ – £80
Most boilers have a summer setting which means you can turn off the central heating and still get hot water on demand.
The button to trigger the summer mode should be easy to spot – sometimes it’s a sun symbol.
Activating summer mode could save you around 10% on your annual bill in the three months over the summer as well, Nicolas and James Auckland from Trade Radiators previously told The Sun.
Uswitch says the average gas bill in the UK is around £800, meaning a saving of around £80 just by flicking a switch.
Get your boiler serviced – £60
Spring might just be the best time to get your boiler serviced – and it could save you money in the long run.
Checkatrade says the average cost of getting a boiler serviced is around £100.
However, having it checked over will ensure everything is running smoothly and you won’t have to call out for an emergency plumber.
Checkatrade says the average cost of calling out an emergency plumber is around £110 with their hourly rate £50.
That means getting a boiler service in could save you £60.
What energy bill help is available?
There’s a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill.
Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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